Here’s the thing. I am a liberal. Unabashed. Unapologetic. Unlikely (Born and lived my entire life in Texas).

As a Texan I hear quite a lot of talk from conservatives. Or from those who call themselves Conservatives. Capital C. They tend to be pretty loud and like to refer to things as being unconstitutional. Some of their favorite phrases are FOUNDING FATHERS! and ORIGINAL INTENT! And TENTH AMENDMENT!

So, I decided to take up arms. By reading the actual document again. And the Federalist papers. And the anti-Federalist papers. And just for good measure the Declaration of Independence and the Mayflower Compact. That’s a lot of eighteenth century language to absorb but I think I have a pretty good feel for what these guys were going for when they put together this country I live in.

It’s pretty simple, really.

Freedom. For all.

Well, for most, at first. Women and minorities came later, but that is an important point, I believe. They DID come later. Because the country changed. Became more enlightened. We figured out that All means ALL. Not just the moneyed few. Not just the land owners. The Constitution does not refer to “tax payers”. When rights are mentioned, it doesn’t call us “voters”. It talks about people and citizens. This is a distinction that gets missed but it may be the most important thing to take away when reading this document.

I have a few friends, yes, friends, who are Republicans. One man I consider to be one of my best friends. He knows I would do anything for him and I know the reverse is true. We disagree on most political matters, but we are able to talk about those differences, usually calmly. We probably haven’t changed each other minds on much, if anything, but we maintain a dialogue, and have remained friends.

When reading about the writing of the Constitution and the establishment of the government, it becomes apparent that these men did not agree on everything. Things sometimes got heated and angry words were exchanged. But in the end, they got the job done. People holding opposing sides of an issue made compromises for the betterment of this infant country.

The Constitution started out as an imperfect document, and there have been a few challenges over the years. But along the way, I think we have striven to “form a more perfect union.”

OK, here is the first book on my official Cannonball. I was listening to this while I wrote it.

I have been an Ozzy fan since Blizzard of Oz. The driving guitar, the incredible vocals. My 15 year old ears loved it. The TV show had actually made a (semi) fan out of my wife, though that didn’t necessarily mean I got to turn it up on the stereo.

So when I saw he had written (yeah, yeah, whatever) an autobiography, I knew I would have to read it. I was not disappointed.

The book covers his life pretty completely. Along the way, he takes the reader on a great ride, relating the highs (did you see what I did there?) and the lows. It comes across as incredibly honest and candid. He screwed up a lot, and he admits it. He is absolutely a rock star god and lives like one. But Ozzy is also a loving husband, father and friend and it shines through.

This is where I am supposed to say I would love to party with him, but let’s be honest. I’d never survive it. He barely did, and a good thing, too. How else would we get to hear his incredible, entertaining story?

So much that I lose track. It gets a bit annoying when I get home from the library with a stack of books, get 5 or 6 pages in, and realize I have already read the book.

Recently.

Embarrasingly recently.

I figured a quick call to the library for my records and I would be all set. Except they don’t keep records. (Tell that to the FBI)

OK, then. I’ll just start now with a spreadsheet. Yeah, that’ll do it. It doesn’t help recover what I forgot over the last 5 years or so but hey, I have to start somewhere. Of course, actually entering the titles will require some discipline. I might need some help with this.

Then I came across this Cannonball Read thingie. For the unwashed, the CBR is a project of Pajiba, a web community/blog/review site I have frequented for a few years. Movies, TV, books, pop culture. Nothing is safe from the insightful, profane, nay, scathing reviews on this site. Go check it out.

Anyways, the Cannonball Read is a challenge to read 52 books in a year. I do that easily, but oops, it also requires a review of the book, posted on a blog. Gulp. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, eh?

So, I will be reading, and reviewing, at least 52 books this year. Stay tuned!